May/Jun 2024

ISSN 2632-8224 Est. 1992 

McCarty & Smith 

May / June 2024 Issue No: 191 

FREE 

swvg.co.uk 

McCARTY & SMITH 

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INSIDE: Eastwood Green • WOADS returns • Jumble trail • Mapping South Woodford 

Community groups • Local events • Useful numbers • Directory of local businesses 

Independent directory of businesses, news and events in and around South Woodford

2 

WOODTHORPE 

JOINERY 

your local supplier of wooden shutters and blinds 

Wanstead • London • T: 0203 589 4879 

E: info@wjoinery.co.uk • www.wjoinery.co.uk 

Light 

South Woodford 

| 

Village 

Shade 

Gazette 

Privacy Light | Shade | Style 

Privacy | Style 

FITTED WARDROBES 

ALSO AVAILABLE 

Celebrating 13 Years 

as your local supplier of window shutters 

WOODTHORPE 

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your local supplier 

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To advertise, call 020 8819 0595 or visit swvg.co.uk

Contents 

Features 

By George! 16–17 

A smart move 20 

Fields of memories24 

DD’s 65th Woodford Diary26–27 

Time for flexitime 30 

Plotting progress 36 

Park life40–41 

A real gem 44 

Behind the wall 46–47 

Writing history 50 

Puzzles & competitions 

Sudoku 18 

Crossword competition32 

Woodford anagram48 

Every issue 

Local news6–8 & 10–13 

Community events55–58 & 60–61 

Community groups 62 

Useful numbers64 

Index of advertisers66 

Contact Us 

020 8819 0595 

Welcome... 

Such a fine sight, to watch a new shoot uncoil, 

Sprouting new life from under the soil. 

A little a day, reaching higher and higher, 

Looking for the sun, a thing of desire. 

Spreading wider, the roots set the pace, 

Both flourish in tandem and always with grace. 

A flower, or two, the bees ready to feed, 

And all this comes from one tiny seed. 

In South Woodford, there are seeds galore, 

Seeds of inspiration, that give so much more. 

We see them across our vibrant community, 

And as they bloom, they create opportunity. 

Opportunity to grow, in all senses of the word, 

Opportunity to progress, and for voices to be heard. 

These seeds of opportunity exist among us all, 

In the minds of those taking action, no matter how small. 

From small seeds of inspiration on show, 

Mighty good initiatives in the town do grow. 

From litter pickers to campaigners, young and old, 

A blossoming community is a sight to behold. 

For in the heart of every seed, 

Lies the potential for a worthy deed. 

Like the community gardeners improving the land, 

With seeds in mind and seeds in hand. 

Unloved patches of South Woodford are in their sights, 

These gardening heroes raise our spirits to new heights, 

With every seed, there comes a plan, 

On George Lane, that’s where it began. 

And so it grew and so it grows, 

They work so hard, and it clearly shows. 

The seeds we sow today, tomorrow will reap, 

A harvest of joy, for our community to keep. Lee Marquis, Editor 

Calling local residents... 

The South Woodford Village Gazette proudly supports local 

businesses and we encourage you to do the same. Help us 

help these businesses by mentioning the South Woodford 

Village Gazette when responding to adverts. 

A note to businesses... 

If you are a business based in South Woodford, or if you have 

a presence in the local community, we can help you get your 

message across to our readers. The deadline for inclusion in 

the July/August 2024 edition is 14 June 2024. 

info@swvg.co.uk 

swvg.co.uk 

swvg.co.uk/socials 

South Woodford Village Gazette 

PO Box 2491, Ilford, IG1 8JT 

The South Woodford Village Gazette is 

published every other month with a 

circulation of 12,000 copies. Of these, 

11,000 are delivered to homes and 

businesses across the local area. The 

remaining copies are available from local 

shops. Postal subscriptions are available 

from swvg.co.uk/subscribe 

ISSN 2632-8224 

Published by Marquis IT Ltd. 

Founded in 1992 by Jack Lamport Mitchell. 

Edited from 2004 to 2015 by Ken and Sue Lees. 

Marquis IT Ltd cannot be held responsible for any errors 

or omissions, or endorse companies or products that 

appear in this magazine. The views expressed in feature 

articles are those of the credited authors and do not 

necessarily represent the views of the publisher. 

Printed by Premier Print Group, G02 Lock Studios, 

7 Corsican Square, London, E3 3YD 

©2024 Marquis IT Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this 

publication may be reproduced without prior consent.

4 


Save 

£40 

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The Scout Hut, 114 High Road, London, E18 2QS 

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May /June 2024 5 

Get closer to the moments 

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Please mention the South Woodford Village Gazette when responding to adverts

6 


Blossom Day in South Woodford: 

a celebration of growth and community 

The first annual Blossom 

Day celebration took place 

at the South Woodford 

Community Orchard at 

the end of April. “This is 

our new annual event 

to enjoy the fruit trees, 

flowers and buzzing 

pollinators. Our team 

of fabulous volunteers 

celebrated in style with 

a hands-on gardening 

session. Everything is 

growing brilliantly at 

the moment, including 

the weeds, so most of the session was spent 

weeding the central bed where we planted 

raspberries a couple of months ago,” said a 

spokesperson for the South Woodford Society, 

which established the orchard in 2021. And the 

site – located on the corner of Primrose Road 

Earn £400 

per week and 

create new 

friendships 

The Hilse is a tour operator 

for teens, organising cultural 

exchange programmes in 

Wanstead & Woodford. 

We are looking for host 

families who would like to take 

part in this fun experience. We 

pay £200 p/w per student. 

12 th –25 th June / 3 rd –16 th July 

Call Anna on WhatsApp 0039 3756 920 821 or 

email info@thehilse.co.uk 

and Mulberry Way – is set to undergo more 

development this summer, with plans to lay 

woodchip paths for better access around the 

plants. “Our next volunteer day will be held 

on 19 May from 11am; everyone of all ages is 

welcome!” Email e18society@gmail.com 

Win tickets to 

open-air shows 

Open-air theatre 

company Illyria 

will return to 

Wanstead Park this 

summer with three 

family-friendly 

performances. 

The new season 

begins on 21 July 

with Gilbert and 

Sullivan’s The 

Gondoliers, followed 

by The Hound of 

the Baskervilles on 

13 August and Doctor 

Dolittle on 24 August. 

The South Woodford 

Village Gazette is 

offering a pair of 

tickets as the prize for 

this issue’s crossword 

competition. Visit 

swvg.co.uk/wp24 

Free parking 

with RingGo app 

With pay and display 

parking machines no 

longer operational 

across Redbridge, 

drivers are reminded 

that free parking 

is still available via 

the RingGo app. 

Users should check 

their app settings 

to ensure SMS 

reminders are turned 

off, otherwise RingGo 

will charge 15p to 

confirm a booking 

by text message 

and another 15p for 

an expiry reminder 

message. A new 

PayPoint service has 

also been introduced 

as an alternative way 

to pay for parking. 



National Garden Scheme: visit a local 

garden or open your own 

Inspection and maintenance work 

on George Lane Viaduct 

The garden of 83 Cowslip 

Road will be open on 7 July 

A number of local residents will be opening 

their gardens to the public this summer as 

part of the National Garden Scheme. “Please 

continue to visit the open gardens, not only 

locally but all over London. The library has a 

supply of booklets that detail locations and 

dates… I am also keen to hear from more 

people across Wanstead and Woodford who 

would like to open their garden next year,” 

said Teresa Farnham, a local organiser for the 

scheme, which raised over £3m for nursing 

charities last year. Visit swvg.co.uk/ngs24 

Dave ‘The Running Telephone’ 

completes 25th London Marathon 

A Principal Inspection is to be carried out 

on the George Lane Viaduct as part of 

Redbridge Council’s structures inspection and 

maintenance programme. It will follow work 

to replace the expansion joints on the bridge, 

which began in April. “We are continuing 

at pace with the works and are aiming to 

finish ahead of schedule. We will update the 

parking suspension signage once contractors 

complete a full side of the joint renewals. This 

will allow some parking on The Viaduct whilst 

the work continues,” said a spokesperson. 

Decorating 

spaces 

INTERIOR 

DECORATING 

FURNITURE 

PAINTING 

A Woodford Green resident completed his 

25th consecutive London Marathon in April, 

raising money for Samaritans while dressed in 

his iconic running telephone costume. “Every 

step I take and pound raised could help train 

more volunteers, answer more calls for help 

and, ultimately, save lives,” said Dave Lock, 

who lost his brother Steven to suicide last 

year. The veteran runner – who completed the 

26.2-mile course with his daughter Isabella in 

seven hours and 26 minutes – has raised over 

£50,000 for the charity. Visit swvg.co.uk/lock 

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8 


New parking payment service across 

Redbridge accepts cash 

Local pupil awarded prestigious 

choristership at King’s College School 

Drivers can now use PayPoint locations to 

pay for parking in Redbridge. “The PayPoint 

scheme gives people the opportunity to 

pay for a range of goods and services at 

local retailers signed up as a PayPoint site. 

More than 100 sites already exist across the 

borough, and since the start of March, they 

have been activated to accept payment for 

parking, including by cash,” said a council 

spokesperson. The PayPoint scheme is offered 

in addition to the existing RingGo parking 

payment service. Visit swvg.co.uk/paypoint 

A Year 4 pupil and talented singer from 

Churchfields Junior School has been awarded 

a prestigious choristership at King’s College 

School, Cambridge. Shashank Shivram 

Raghavendran has been learning music since 

the age of four, playing piano, violin and 

guitar. As a member of the London Youth 

Choirs, the eight-year-old has also performed 

at eminent venues, including the Royal Albert 

Hall and Royal Festival Hall. Shashank will take 

up his position as a chorister at King’s College 

School in September. 

Concerns over end-of-life care at 

new Whipps Cross Hospital 

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Barts Health Trust has raised doubts over the 

continuation of bed-based end-of-life care 

facilities in the new Whipps Cross Hospital. 

“At this time, the analysis of data does not 

support re-providing the current bed-based 

services of the Margaret Centre in the new 

facility.” The statement also highlights that it 

is “too soon to make firm recommendations” 

and a decision on the Margaret Centre’s future 

is pending. The first phase of construction 

of the new hospital is expected to begin this 

summer. Visit swvg.co.uk/mcfuture 



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10 


Paganism expert to probe views on 

human remains in local lecture 

WOADS returns with an evening of 

laughter to mark centenary 

A leading authority on ancient and medieval 

paganism will be discussing attitudes 

towards human remains at the West Essex 

Archaeological Group’s free public lecture 

on 13 May. “Traditionally, one of the most 

consecrated kinds of space is a grave… 

However, the contents of graves also 

represent one of the most valuable sources of 

information concerning ancient societies,” said 

Professor Ronald Hutton, whose presentation 

at Woodford Country High School is titled 

‘How Sacred are the Dead?’ Visit weag.org.uk 

A 100-year-old local amateur dramatics 

company is making a comeback this May. 

Members of the Woodford Operatic and 

Dramatic Society (WOADS), which has been 

dormant since 2015, will take to the stage at 

Redbridge Drama Centre for a series of oneact 

plays and monologues entitled Laughter 

in One Act (or less!), performed over three days 

from 17 May. “We are excited to be back just 

in time for our 100th birthday. Join us for an 

evening that will delight and amuse!” said a 

spokesperson. Visit swvg.co.uk/woads 

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To book a tour or talk on the early life 

of Hitch with a local historian, contact 

Gary Lewis on 07793 817 759 or email 

hitchcocktalksandtours@gmail.com or visit our 

website: hitchcock-talks-and-tours.com 

TfL agrees to review impact of 

changes to local bus routes 

Join the South Woodford jumble 

trail in aid of Haven House 

© Geoff Wilkinson 

Redbridge Council’s External Scrutiny 

Committee met with TfL recently in light of 

planned changes to local bus routes. “We 

raised several concerns, including the impact 

of a reduced service to the Nightingale Estate 

and the new W14 not stopping inside Whipps 

Cross. TfL acknowledged the issues but 

reiterated points in the consultation response. 

We did manage to secure a commitment to 

review the impact after a year,” said Councillor 

Daniel Morgan-Thomas. The new routes take 

effect from September. Visit swvg.co.uk/bus 

A jumble trail in aid of Haven House Children’s 

Hospice will take place across South 

Woodford on 19 May. “This exciting event will 

bring together local residents who will be 

selling pre-loved items on their doorsteps. 

Come along and explore the local streets to 

discover hidden treasures. Whether you’re a 

buyer or seller, it’s a fantastic opportunity to 

find bargains and make new friends,” said a 

spokesperson. Stallholders must register by 

17 May (£5). A trail map is available online. 

Visit swvg.co.uk/trail24 


12 


Council’s enforcement team urges 

prompt reporting of fly-tipping 

Live animals on display for this year’s 

Wanstead Wildlife Weekend 

Redbridge Council’s enforcement team have 

urged residents to report fly-tipping. It follows 

issues with rubbish dumped by the bus stop 

at the junction of St Alban’s Road and High 

Road. “We are monitoring this location as 

part of our patrols and have issued a number 

of penalties for fly-tipping. I would request 

residents use the council’s ‘report it’ function 

to report such instances so this can be passed 

to the correct team to be investigated quickly 

and action taken before evidence is lost,” said 

a spokesperson. Visit swvg.co.uk/reportit 

Live animals will be on show in Wanstead 

this June as part of the annual Wanstead 

Wildlife Weekend. “We have booked an 

exciting display from a company with a good 

reputation for animal welfare. They will be 

showing live British wildlife, such as rodents, 

a barn owl, a snake, invasive marsh frogs and 

even a rescue hedgehog,” said a Wren Wildlife 

Group spokesperson. Taking place on 22 and 

23 June, the weekend of free events will also 

include bushcraft workshops, a spider hunt 

and pond dipping. Visit swvg.co.uk/www24 



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Snaresbrook station car park closed 

for housing development 

© Geoff Wilkinson 

Iain Duncan Smith MP has launched a Central 

Line satisfaction survey. “Right now, Central 

line services outside of Central London are 

only running every 15 minutes. And they’ve 

no idea when this will return to normal… 

That’s why I’m doing a satisfaction survey. 

I’ll collect all the responses and share them 

directly with the Mayor of London and the 

Commissioner of TfL… Please tell me how the 

delays and overcrowding are impacting you,” 

said the Chingford & Woodford Green MP. 

Visit swvg.co.uk/idscl 

Snaresbrook station car park has closed ahead 

of the construction of two blocks of flats on 

part of the site. “This will allow work to deliver 

74 new affordable homes to commence. 

Due to the complexities of the construction 

work, there will be limited access to Blue 

Badge spaces, but we will work to keep 

these spaces available as much as possible 

during construction,” said a spokesperson for 

Places for London, TfL’s commercial property 

company. A smaller car park with 22 spaces is 

expected to reopen in spring 2026. 


14 


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0587_BARRETTS_A5_WAN_MONTH_MAY_PROBATE_ART_PREP.indd 1 16/04/2024 15:30 


16 


Opposite the roundabout on 

George Lane, Eastwood Green was 

started by a group of volunteers 

in autumn 2022, with the intention of 

transforming an uninspiring patch of grass 

into a vibrant haven for 

people and wildlife. 

What a difference 

a year and a half 

has made! The 

wonderful work 

undertaken 

by the South 

Woodford 

Gardeners in the 

local area shows 

how much 

difference green 

space can make 

to our community. 

However, we also 

wanted the area to be low 

maintenance. All the work 

here is carried out by a team of 

fantastic volunteers in collaboration with the 

South Woodford Society and funding from 

Redbridge Council. What we have created 

is essentially a meadow, which includes a 

diverse mix of wild flowers and bulbs. The 

plants were selected to be drought-tolerant, 

so no watering necessary. The occasional 

weeding is all that’s needed, but we embrace 

the wild aesthetic. We’re also trialling some 

grass alternatives, such as chamomile and 

thyme. These plants are an attractive, lowmaintenance 

option for those who like a lawn 

but don’t have time to maintain it. 

As well as creating a pleasant space for 

residents to enjoy, one of the main goals of 

the project was to increase habitat and food 

sources for our struggling pollinators. We 

have seen a catastrophic decline in flying 

insects, with the numbers dropping by 60% 

in the past 20 years! Sadly, Britain is one of 

the most nature-depleted countries on the 

planet. Some of the reasons for the decline 

are habitat loss, food shortage and pesticide 

use. It is estimated that 84% of EU crops rely 

on insect pollination. If this continues, we may 

not have enough pollinators for all the crops 

we need, which is a scary prospect. 



Eastwood Green, off George 

Lane, has become a wonderful 

haven for bees and butterflies 

as well as a pleasant space 

for residents. Local 

gardener Stephanie Derby 

reports. Photos by 

Geoff Wilkinson 

The good news is we can change this. We all 

have the power to help reverse this worrying 

trend. Research shows that London gardens 

take up 24% of the land cover in the capital. 

With more areas being developed and 

habitats destroyed, our gardens are vital for 

wildlife. Pollinators use our gardens as ‘green 

corridors’ to move between their nests and 

feeding sites. Some species, such as certain 

solitary bees, only travel as little as 100 metres, 

so it is crucial for them to have nectar sources 

close by. As a professional gardener and 

designer, my top tips for a wildlife-friendly 

garden would be: reduce hard landscaping; 

avoid artificial grass; introduce pollinatorfriendly 

plants; and stop the use of pesticides. 

There are many more I could include, were it 

not for my word limit! 

Our little project at Eastwood Green is 

showcasing the difference a few plants 

can make as we’ve seen huge increases in 

pollinator numbers over the past year. We’ve 

now installed benches, so I would encourage 

anyone to take a rest there and observe all 

the bees, butterflies and hoverflies that are 

enjoying the flowers we’ve provided for them. 

To help with Eastwood Green gardening, 

email e18society@gmail.com 

For more information on gardening and 

wildlife, follow Stephanie on Instagram 

@stephanietaraderby 


18 


AGY’S 

BARBER 

SHOP 

Walk-ins welcome. If you would like to make an appointment, call: 

020 8989 9231 

72c George Lane, South Woodford, E18 1JJ 

All hairstyles 

catered for 

Beard trims 

Traditional 

hot-towel 

shaves 

Mon to Fri: 9am – 7pm 

(Closed Wed) 

Sat: 8.30am – 5.30pm 

Sun: 10am – 2.30pm 

IN THE BUILDING TRADE FOR 30 YEARS 

Sudoku 

Fill in the grid so that each 

row, column and 3x3 box 

contains the digits 1 through 

to 9 with no repetition. 

3 1 2 4 

6 8 

1 2 

1 2 4 9 

9 6 

3 5 6 

6 8 5 4 

4 6 3 7 

9 

Solution on page 32 

Anagram: The Viaduct 



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Visit us today Garden Maintenance Tree Service 

Shop online at lancastersonline.com or call 020 8520 1088 

UNIT 2, THE OLD STATION YARD, WALTHAMSTOW, E17 3NZ 


20 


A SMART MOVE 

Three years ago, Eddie Tam and Edia Chow made a big decision: to uproot 

their lives – and their suit hire business – from the bustling streets of 

Hong Kong and settle in the serene enclave of South Woodford 

What was the motivation behind 

our move? Primarily, it was for our 

children’s education, but also for 

the opportunity to expand our menswear 

and tuxedo business, MODE London, to the 

UK market. 

London, with its rich fashion culture and 

historical ties to Hong Kong, seemed like the 

perfect fit. And it was South Woodford that 

captured our hearts. Nestled close enough 

to the city for convenience, yet far enough to 

retain a peaceful charm, this neighbourhood 

felt like home from the moment we arrived. 

The transition, however, wasn’t without its 

challenges. Adapting to the cultural nuances 

and customer behaviours was a learning 

curve. What we thought we knew about 

running a business didn’t always align with 

the reality of operating in a new environment. 

Client preferences vary significantly between 

Hong Kong and the UK markets. While Hong 

Kong clients often opt for more elaborate 

styles for their pre-wedding and wedding 

day attire, local clients here in the UK tend to 

prefer simpler yet elegant designs. 

Moreover, the lifestyle in Hong Kong is 

characterised by high pressure in terms of 

work and study due to intense competition. 

In contrast, South Woodford offers a more 

relaxed and balanced approach to life, 

allowing us to fully embrace the change and 

appreciate the tranquillity of our new home. 

Life in South Woodford has a different rhythm 

compared to Hong Kong. At first, the slower 

pace felt foreign to us, accustomed as we 

were to the frenetic energy of city life. But 

over time, we’ve come to appreciate the more 

laid-back atmosphere. The living environment 

in South Woodford also offers a stark contrast 

Eddie and Edia with their 

children Edwina and Edison 

to Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, space for leisure 

activities for our children and pets was limited, 

whereas South Woodford boasts abundant 

greenery and spacious surroundings. Of 

course, there are aspects of home we miss 

dearly, including our home-town foods. 

While cooking in our new home has become 

a necessity, the bustling energy of London’s 

Chinatown offers a taste of familiarity. 

Yet, despite these adjustments, what we love 

most about South Woodford is its people. 

The genuine warmth and friendliness of 

the community has made us feel welcomed 

and accepted from day one. Whether it’s 

striking up conversations with neighbours or 

interacting with customers in our shop, the 

sense of camaraderie here is truly special. 

As we reflect on our journey thus far, we’re 

filled with gratitude for the opportunity to 

call South Woodford home. The support of 

this community has truly helped us – and 

our business – thrive. So, here’s to embracing 

change, cherishing diversity and celebrating 

the spirit of South Woodford. 

MODE London is located in The Galleria on 

George Lane, South Woodford. For more 

information, visit modelondon.co.uk 



Your Mode, Your Ocassion 

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24 


Fields of Memories 

In the second of a series of articles to mark Churchfields Infants’ and 

Junior School’s 150th anniversary, former pupil Carol Elsbury (class of 1972) 

reflects on her memories of Miss Francis and Mr Baker 

People often say schooldays are 

the best days of your lives. I felt a 

sense of security and happiness at 

Churchfields, which was a testament to the 

staff. We had recently moved from Swindon 

and starting a new school was terrifying. At 

the end of the first day, the school phoned 

my parents to congratulate them on my 

grasp of English, which confused my mum 

until she realised they thought I had come 

from Sweden, not Swindon! 

I have hazy memories of the infants, where 

Miss Hollis presided over us one day in the 

playground, dividing our class into birthdays. 

We had no idea this would mean some of our 

friends would ‘disappear’ and our class would 

be altered going forward. We soon adjusted 

and my real memories begin clearly when we 

went into the junior school. 

Our classroom was one of the huts built at 

the rear of the school, near the large field, to 

cater for the ever-growing student body. I 

can remember that hut as being so colourful, 

with paintings on all the walls, a large nature 

table on the right-hand side of the room and 

mobiles hanging from the ceiling. The tiny 

tables faced the blackboard and to the rear 

was the reading area. The teacher was Sheila 

Francis; she was one of two cherished teachers 

at that school who did so much for me. 

I was okay until someone raised their voice; 

then I was scared. When Miss Francis would 

admonish someone, I would be upset but try 

not to show it. Finally, my mum spoke to Miss 

Francis, who came up with a simple but very 

kind plan. If she was going to raise her voice, 

she would walk over to me, hold both my 

hands and smile, and then tell someone off 

over her shoulder! It might seem silly now, but 

to me, it made all the difference in the world. 

Class photo with 

Miss Francis 

In my last year at juniors, we were supposed 

to have our first male teacher, Mr Baker. 

However, when we came in on that first 

morning, we were greeted by an elderly 

teacher, who I think was Mrs Mangham. She 

explained Mr Baker had been on holiday and 

had tragically lost his son in an accident. She 

taught us for a few weeks and said it was 

essential we did not say anything to Mr Baker 

about the accident and that we must be 

well-behaved upon his return. And we were. I 

found Mr Baker an encouraging and positive 

person, which was extraordinary given what 

he must have been suffering. He developed 

my love of reading and writing and my last 

report said I had a very “chatty” style! 

I think the greatest sadness for pupils of our 

era is that when we return for the reunion 

in June, the buildings we remember will no 

longer be there. I can close my eyes and see 

the high windows, the painted bricks, the 

classroom doors surrounding the hall and the 

gigantic TV stand, which was ceremoniously 

wheeled out. But mostly, I remember a feeling 

of happiness, and for that, I am truly grateful. 

A school reunion will take place on 8 June 

from 11am. For more information and to 

register, visit swvg.co.uk/c150 



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26 


DD’s 65 th Woodford Diary 

Some South Woodford scribbles from DD, 

our resident diarist and observer of all things 

local. Illustrated by Evelyn Rowland 

I 

can’t remember, or even imagine, a 

time when I didn’t love words. Perhaps 

some of you were at the ‘Red School’ 

when I was, with the formidable Miss Read 

ruling the roost. If so, you may remember 

listening to How Things Began on the radio 

in the final year. We had to turn our 

notes (starting from Neanderthal 

Man in the Palaeolithic Era) into 

a complete book. I still 

have mine. Writing 

letters has never 

seemed like a chore to 

me. My younger brother, 

Michael, moved abroad 

many years before the 

email revolution and we 

regularly filled those small, 

blue, lick-round-the-edge 

airmail forms with family 

news on each side of the four-thousandmile 

divide. He also still writes and has 

several books to his name. But that’s quite 

enough chat. 

I would like to 

say a big thank 

you to those of 

you who have 

written to me on 

my Gazette email 

address. Nothing 

warms my heart 

more than realising 

someone actually reads 

the stuff I write. Thoughts, 

comments, suggestions as to 

possible themes: all welcome. 

Your letters are like gifts, which 

brings me, by a somewhat 

convoluted route, to this issue’s 

theme: gifts. 

“I’ve been in gifts 

for 25 years.” This was 

Sue speaking, one 

of the long-serving staff at Room 22 

(directly opposite the approach road 

into Sainsbury’s). “I love this shop,” 

she continued. “Look outside: 

people rushing by, heading 

to the station, or the bus stop. 

Wondering if they’ve remembered 

everything they meant to include 

on their shopping list. Now 

look at those who have walked 

in here. You can’t help noticing 

it: they have slowed down, they are 

relaxing, they are winding down. I feel this 

myself when I arrive in the morning. A sense 

of contentment. There’s nothing not to like! 

Compare this with sitting at an office desk 

all day! I am handling lovely things. I have 

the opportunity to be creative, to think 

about the best way to display newly-arrived 

stock: William Morris porcelain, Gistella 

Graham tableware, special items 

for Mother’s Day or Valentine’s 

Day. Warm mohair scarves in 

bright unusual colours and 

designs, dresses, woollens.” 

“I didn’t know you sold 

clothes as well,” I managed to 

interrupt the enthusiastic flow. “Not 

many left just now. Sundresses, hats 

even; they disappeared fast.” 

Another happy South Woodford 

shopkeeper is Olga. “I always longed 



to run 

my own 

business 

with lots 

of regular 

customers 

and highquality 

goods. And 

what a joy when a 

corner shop became 

available!” (It’s at 

the junction of George Lane and 

Pulteney Road.) Olga is a balloon seller with 

long experience and a huge range of sizes, 

colours and shapes. But I quickly realised 

this was a mere fraction of the breadth of 

services she offers. She can plan and design 

and create in every detail the special party 

you have in mind, tailored individually to 

the occasion, balloons and much more. An 

anniversary? A birthday? An engagement? 

She is happy to visit the party venue, perhaps 

your sitting room, perhaps somewhere 

bigger, to measure up the space and provide 

you with a sketch of how the venue could 

look on the day. The shop has a really fun 

atmosphere. All sorts of party and gift ideas 

and paraphernalia fill the shelves around 

the walls. Olga was glad to chat: “I trained 

as a physiotherapist in Lithuania but jobs 

were hard to find.” “Was that because you 

were a woman?” “No, not really.” “Perhaps your 

heart wasn’t in it? You were dreaming of your 

corner shop and party plans?” Olga smiled. 

“I think there’s some truth in what you say. 

I suppose really I’m a bit of a softie. I admit 

it. Most of my patients in the hospital were 

severely disabled. I would go home with a 

broken heart. Often tears. Look at me now just 

recalling what it was like. Now I go home with 

a smile on my face and a spring in my step. 

What could be better than helping people to 

celebrate? And I do have lots of lovely regular 

customers!” 

Located in the station forecourt is what must 

be the smallest shop in South Woodford. 

Proof positive that ‘good things come in small 

packages’. “A perfect gift for special people” it 

says above the window. I had always assumed 

that all the special gifts were necklaces, rings 

and brooches. I know better now. Just three 

years ago, this ‘boutique’ changed hands 

and here was Irem sitting 

behind the mini counter 

with fresh flowers and a 

welcoming smile as I 

stepped in. Irem is 

Turkish but has lived 

in the UK for over 

20 years, is married to 

an Englishman and has a teenage 

daughter at a local school. 

Lucky daughter to 

be bilingual. Irem is, 

first and foremost, an 

artist: “Even when 

I’m cooking, I love 

arranging the food on 

the plate as an artist. 

And it’s the same when 

I lay the table. That 

too can be a work 

of art.” All this 

was delightfully 

evident in the 

shop. It was like a 

mini art gallery, 

with her own paintings 

displayed on the walls 

between the showcases of jewellery. 

“I have continued the tradition of 

the previous owner,” she told me. “I 

specialise in gemstones and silver. 

Absolutely fine for customers who find they 

are allergic to other metals.” Along with her 

paintings, Irem sells handcrafted gifts: unusual 

Turkish bags, small, beautifully carved olive 

wood boxes on which she has painted her 

unique designs. Even all the displays of her 

gemstones in all their different colours look 

like the work of an artist with a capital A. 

I think it’s time to wrap this up. (Sorry! I 

couldn’t resist that.) There’s a cluster of 

birthdays coming up. Between us, we share 

six children and 12 grandchildren. Mostly, they 

prefer their gifts to be a surprise. But everthoughtful 

Sophie rang today with a helpful 

message: “I expect you may wish to know 

what I’d like for my birthday.” 

To contact DD with your thoughts or 

feedback, email dd@swvg.co.uk 


28 

Meet our local 

Specialists and Clinicians… 

Dr Kiran Beneng BDS(Hons), MFDS RCS(Eng), DipDSed, MOralSurg(Ed) 

“ 

Consultant Oral Surgeon 

I have been working as a Consultant Oral Surgeon at Guy’s Hospital 

since 2012. I qualified from King’s College London in 2003 and have 

worked in various hospitals and dental practices across London and 

Kent. I have always loved the community feel of Wanstead, having 

lived here myself, and I look forward to meeting you. 

Dr Nadia Amin BDS (Lon), MFDS (RCS Eng) 

“ 

Dental Sedationist 

I am a member of the Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia 

in Dentistry and the British Society of Special Care Dentistry. I 

understand that coming to the dentist can be daunting for many and 

I’ve always wanted to help overcome this barrier to dental care. I 

have extensive experience in the provision of dental sedation. 

Dr Suky Ghuman BDS Birmingham 2009 

“ 

Dentist with Special Interest in Facial Aesthetics 

“ 

“ 

I qualified from the University of Birmingham in 2009 and facial 

aesthetics has always been a specialist interest of mine. I am trained 

in the use of treatments to tackle wrinkles and sweating, as well as 

helping those with TMJ problems. I am also qualified in dermal fillers, 

medical skin peels and cosmeceutical skin care. 

Dr Vikas Agarwal BDS MFDS RCSEd MClinDent MPros RCSEd FDS RCSEd 

“ 


Specialist Prosthodontist, Implantologist and Cosmetic Dentist 

I completed specialist training in Prosthodontics from Barts and 

The London Dental School in 2014. I am a Member at The Royal 

College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, where I obtained my Fellowship. I 

provide implants, cosmetic and prosthetic dentistry and full mouth 

reconstructions for that ‘new you’ smile. 

“ 

“ 

Mr Raj Dubal BDS (Lon) MFDS RCS (Ed) MClin Dent (Pros) MRD RCS (Ed) PG Cert (Dent Ed) FDS RCS (Ed) ISFE (Rest Dent) Ed 

“ 

Consultant in Restorative Dentistry and Fixed 

and Removable Prosthodontics 

Having grown up in the Wanstead and Woodford area my whole life, 

I am now a Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at The Royal London 

Dental Hospital and enjoy spending part of my week treating our very 

special local community at Smile in London, Wanstead. 

“ 



Smilein London 

At Smile in London, our patients receive the highest 

standards of dental care with a gentle touch. 

Husband and wife team, Amit and Preeti Gupta 

founded Smile in London Dental Practice in 2008 and 

have since grown their team so that our Wanstead 

community does not have to venture too far to receive 

advanced and specialist treatments. 

Founders Amit and Preeti Gupta 

Our friendly team have trained extensively and 

developed considerable skills, enabling them to optimise 

your oral health with expert advice on the treatment that is right for 

you. They are committed to dental health and rehabilitation which is 

conservative, patient-centred, and evidence-based. 

Saturday appointments available 

Find us at 19 Cambridge Park, Wanstead, E11 2PU 

smileinlondon.co.uk info@smileinlondon.co.uk 020 8532 9990 


30 


Time for flexitime 

Jo Cullen from local solicitors Edwards Duthie Shamash takes a look at 

the improvements to employee rights following recent changes to the 

flexible working request regime 

Flexible working is a way of working 

that suits an employee’s needs, for 

example, having flexible start and 

finish times, or working from home. All 

employees have the legal right to request 

flexible working. On 6 April 2024, changes 

to the new flexible working request regime 

came into force. The headline changes 

include: 

• An employee can request flexible working 

from their first day of employment; there is 

no qualification period. 

• When making a request, an employee no 

longer has to explain what effect, if any, 

they think their requested change will have 

on their employer and how any such effect 

might be dealt with. 

• An employee is entitled to make two 

requests in any 12-month period. 

• An employer will not be permitted to refuse 

a request unless the employee has been 

consulted. 

• The time for an employer to make a 

decision is reduced from three to two 

months. 

The new rules are very much to the benefit 

of the employee, giving them the ability 

to request flexibility from their first day of 

employment. There has been much debate 

about this Day One right and the impact the 

change may have on employers. However, 

flexible working is increasingly a topic for 

discussion during the recruitment process, 

and the impact may not be as great as 

initially expected with prospective employees 

looking to agree varied terms before starting 

employment. 

Whilst an employee has the right to request 

flexible working, an employer does not have 

to agree to the request if it is not feasible and 

the rejection reasoning falls within one of the 

business reasons that continue to apply as set 

out in the legislation. 

Employers will have to deal promptly with 

requests within the new set time limits, 

although there is still scope to extend this 

time by agreement. Any request must be fully 

considered and discussed. Where a request is 

not to be agreed, a full consultation must take 

place and all steps taken clearly documented, 

including details around variations to the 

proposed changes or alternative roles to 

reduce the risk of an appeal and, ultimately, a 

claim being issued. 

Employers will need to be ready to implement 

these changes and ensure they are familiar 

with the new rules and the updated Acas 

statutory code of practice on requests for 

flexible working. 

Edwards Duthie Shamash is located at 

149 High Street, Wanstead, E11 2RL. For 

more information, call 020 8514 9000 or 

visit edwardsduthieshamash.co.uk 



Edwards Duthie Shamash 

Solicitors 

Sports 

and Leisure 

Injury Claims 

We have expertise in handling sports and leisure injury claims. 

When playing sports or performing leisure pursuits, there is 

always some element of risk but you may still be able to claim 

compensation when your injury is somebody else’s fault. 

Our solicitors will handle your claim on a No Win, No Fee basis and 

deal with matters in a compassionate and professional manner. 

Email: bradley.wright@edslaw.co.uk 

Scan the QR code to visit our website 

Call us on: 0208 514 9000 

allinfo@edslaw.co.uk | www.edslaw.co.uk | 

Wanstead | Waterloo | Stratford | Ilford 


32 


Crossword competition 

Win two tickets to an outdoor theatre show in Wanstead Park 

May/June 2024 

Across 

1. Electrical units (4) 

5. Douse, spray (6) 

8. Wide smile (4) 

9. Party game (8) 

10. Not hurt (8) 

11. Valueless (4) 

12. Chef’s garment (5) 

14. Fall asleep (3,3) 

16. Minor quarrel (4) 

18. Stimulating (8) 

20. Appeased (8) 

21. Three squared (4) 

22. Hay fever cause (6) 

Down 

2. Actress Hart (7) 

3. Mr Claus (5) 

4. Villain actor Alan (7) 

5. Regular payment 

instruction (8,5) 

6. Educated (7) 

7. Metal alloy (5) 

13. Court do-over (7) 

15. Supply capital (7) 

17. Keyboard 

instrument (5) 

19. Type of boom (5) 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 9 

10 11 

12 13 14 15 

16 17 18 19 

20 21 

22 

For the chance to win two tickets to 

The Gondoliers in Wanstead Park on 21 July, 

courtesy of Illyria, send your crossword 

solution, name and address to: 


PO BOX 2491, Ilford, IG1 8JT 

Alternatively, email your entry (subject line: 

May/June 2024) to: crossword@swvg.co.uk 

Closing date: 22 May 2024 

One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received before 5pm on 22 May 2024. 

The winner will receive their prize within 28 days of the closing date. Full T&Cs at swvg.co.uk/tc 

Congratulations to Beryl Chapman of Primrose Road, 

South Woodford, who won two tickets to The Rocket 

Man in last issue’s crossword competition. 

Mar/Apr Crossword Solution 

E D G I N G D E C A N T 

U D L I L A 

E N D I V E S H A F T S 

G O E R A R K 

B A L M Y G I T 

R P A R A F F I N 

E R T E Y M 

V E G E T A T E E 

S P S L A P S 

A T G A S E I 

R E V I V E H E A T E R 

M L N I R C 

S T R E E T P E N N E D 

May/Jun Sudoku Solution 

8 3 1 7 9 2 6 5 4 

2 6 4 5 8 3 1 9 7 

9 5 7 4 1 6 8 2 3 

6 1 2 3 4 7 5 8 9 

4 8 9 2 5 1 7 3 6 

3 7 5 9 6 8 4 1 2 

7 9 6 8 3 5 2 4 1 

1 4 8 6 2 9 3 7 5 

5 2 3 1 7 4 9 6 8 



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36 


As the South Woodford Design Code continues to develop in earnest, 

Pearl Arbenser-Simmonds reports on the work underway to create an 

online map of community assets 

A 

Design Code is a collection of design 

principles to help local areas 

deliver beautiful and sustainable 

places. It enables the community to lead 

the way in shaping the design of their 

own neighbourhood. The document 

will eventually provide guidance for 

development, covering the design of 

streets, public spaces and buildings, as well 

as spaces for nature. 

The South Woodford Society and 

Neighbourhood Forum are progressing well 

in developing a digital version of the Design 

Code for the area. We are in the process of 

creating a new, user-friendly website so 

residents, community groups, businesses, 

developers and other interested stakeholders 

can explore what matters to people locally. 

It will also set out guidelines for new 

development and our targets for 2040. 

One of the things we are doing is mapping 

community assets using the web-based 

ArcGIS. A graphic information system (GIS) is a 

spatial system that creates, manages, analyses 

and maps all types of data. It is a complete 

system for discovering, consuming, creating 

and sharing geographical data maps and 

apps designed to fulfil particular objectives. It 

connects data to a map, integrating location 

data (where things are) with all types of 

descriptive information (what things are like 

there). For example, Crossrail is using ArcGIS 

to develop maps and data for public-facing 

information. 

Here in South Woodford, we are mapping 

everything from street benches to tree canopy 

cover to better understand what we have and 

what we need. This digital map will document 

our journey towards South Woodford as a 

green and active neighbourhood, which 

inspires people to walk and cycle, with a 

vibrant town centre filled with opportunities 

for the community to socialise. 

With a series of road maps as our basic 

tools, we have walked the streets within 

our boundary, noting the locations of street 

benches (including bus stop seats), cycle 

storage and trees. The image here shows 

a basic view of the work we have carried 

out thus far. Over the coming weeks, we’ll 

continue this process using online tools, as 

well as our base maps, to document more 

assets, such as cycle routes, cycle storage 

and walking routes. Our aspiration is to 

eventually map pretty much anything that is 

of interest to our local community. You will 

then be able to access this information via an 

online map. 

This project is a lot of work, so we are always 

happy to have additional volunteers to 

help. If this is something you would like to 

support, please get in touch. We’d love to hear 

from you! 

For more information and to get involved, 

email sowodeco@gmail.com 



Read the full 

report online 

South Woodford 

Community Consultation 

Oct Dec 2023 

Green space Public space Walking & Cycling 

infrastructure 

Amenities 

South Woodford Society and Neighbourhood Forum is 

developing a Design Code – a set of design principles to 

inform future development. Community contributions, at 

every stage, are shaping the Design Code vision. This latest 

consultation (Oct to Dec 2023) offers site specific insights, 

building on previous work to better understand what matters 

to people locally. Read the full report online... 

swvg.co.uk/future 


38 


Selecting an independent school can be a 

daunting task given the many options 

available, ranging from preparatory to 

secondary and 'all through' schools. 

At Loyola, we strongly advocate the benefits 

of remaining in a preparatory school for the 

duration of their primary education, as it 

provides an excellent foundation for a 

successful future. 

To gain insight into education at Loyola , we 

had the pleasure of asking James, a Year 6 

pupil who has attended Loyola from the age 

of three, just like his brother. 

Q Firstly, congratulations on your multiple 11+ offers and scholarships from several 

top independent schools and securing a place at a leading Grammar School. How 

were you prepared by the school for the various styles of 11+ entry exams? 

A That is a difficult question; as the school prepares you through your whole time 

here. But once you have decided which schools you are applying for, you are set 

appropriate past papers for those schools, covering Maths, English, Verbal and Non- 

Verbal reasoning. You are also taught various styles of writing, such as a persuasive 

argument and creative writing so you are fully prepared for the exams. We also used 

Atom Learning for those schools that used computer-based exams for their entrance 

process. Additionally, we did interview practice, puzzle/problem solving and team 

skills to help with our preparation. 



Q Aside from your fantastic 11+ results, what have been 

some of your proudest achievements during your time at 

Loyola? 

A In 2023 my class entered the UK Independent Schools 

Mathematician of the Year competition, in which I came 18th 

in the country. In my last year I was also appointed as a 

Senior Prefect and Captain of Rugby and Swimming. 

Q What extra-curricular activities have you taken part in and 

which are your favorite? 

A My favorite extra-curricular activity is Rugby and I have enjoyed competing against 

other schools. I have also played some cricket and football and with two of my friends, 

we organised a fund-raising hockey match for Haven House. As a member of the Choir, 

we sang at the Royal Albert Hall. I have also been a member of the Lego, Chess and 

Sketch club. I also had a go at learning to play the piano. 

During the holidays, I have been to Ollie’s Soccer Club at school and Ms Coupland’s Get 

Creative Club. Now the 11+ has finished, we have trampolining, badminton, sailing as 

well as Activity Week, which is really soon. I am excited about the next residential to 

Wales and also as a class to perform the ‘X-Factory Play’ later this term. 

Q What have you enjoyed the most during your time at Loyola Prep School? 

A It has been an enjoyable time at Loyola, but one highlight among many, was the 

residential activity week in year 5, as it was good to get away with my friends and have 

fun after COVID. 

Q What are your future aspirations? 

A My future aspiration is to become a Maths teacher. 

Q What advice would you offer to any new pupil 

starting at Loyola? 

A Embrace the opportunities and never give up. 

Q Lastly, if you were to sum up your experience at 

Loyola in one sentence, what would it be? 

A Fun, enjoyable and full of good memories. 

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40 


Park 

Life 

In the seventh of a series of articles featuring the 

images of local photographers who document 

the wildlife of Wanstead Park and the 

surrounding area, Mark O’Dell presents 

his shot of a Mute Swan in flight 

I 

took this image of a Mute Swan flying 

towards me in Wanstead Park. I find 

photographing wildlife is a fantastic way 

to capture the beauty of the natural world, 

get out in the fresh air and exercise both 

body and mind. 

I’m a professional photographer and content 

creator based in Woodford Green. I’ve shot a 

diverse range of subjects for commercial and 

editorial clients and the occasional wedding, 

too. I enjoy photographing people, both 

professionally and those I meet in day-today 

life. I love telling stories through my 

images and my love of photography allows 

me to connect with awesome companies 

and individuals. I also provide one-to-one 

photography training sessions, covering 

aspects such as setting up your camera, 

learning about exposure, flash or anything 

connected to photography. I now also provide 

advice and tuition on getting to grips with 

wildlife photography. When I’m not working, 

you’ll find me out and about photographing 

the wonderful wildlife we have locally. 

We are so lucky in Redbridge, having access 

to fantastic parks and, as individuals, there 



are numerous ways we can engage with and 

support wildlife conservation efforts. I support 

the RSPB and regularly visit their reserves 

throughout the country. I also photograph 

birds and insects that exist within the 

borough and share my images with the local 

community (some of which are housebound) 

through social media. Bringing the outside 

world to them through my images and words 

is particularly fulfilling. 

On my regular walks in the local parks, I’ve met 

and photographed some interesting people 

and made some long-lasting friendships, too. 

A lot of our parks in Wanstead and Woodford 

rely heavily on volunteers to keep them 

looking shipshape by litter picking and other 

manual labour, so a big shout-out to those 

who give their time freely to maintain and 

improve these green spaces. 

To view more of Mark’s wildlife photos, 

visit swvg.co.uk/odell 

For more information on Mark’s portrait 

photography, visit markodell.com 


42 


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44 


A real gem 

South Woodford resident Kim Rix became a gemologist to fully indulge 

her passion for gemstones. Ahead of a gemstone discovery tour to 

Tanzania this summer, she offers some insight into her work 

I’ve always loved gemstones. There’s 

just something magical about wearing 

a mineral that was created by Mother 

Nature over millions of years. In my forties, 

my passion was so intense, I became 

addicted to buying jewellery just so I 

could take a closer look! In 2017, after 

naively buying a glass ‘ruby’ on holiday, 

I took my hobby further and qualified as 

a gemologist with the world-renowned 

Gemological Institute of America (GIA). 

What is a gemologist? I hear you ask. 

Gemology is the identification of gemstones. 

It involves testing a gemstone with specialist 

equipment, which eventually gives you the 

necessary clues to make an identification. A 

gemologist can also assess synthetic versus 

natural gemstones. 

At its most basic, the rule of thumb is this: 

the rarer, the bigger and the more naturally 

beautiful a gemstone is, the more it will be 

worth. The problem is you cannot properly 

analyse a stone with the naked eye or 

gemologist’s loupe (magnifying glass). This is 

where the gem labs come in. In a laboratory, 

experts using high-tech equipment will be 

able to give you definitive information. 

A gemologist can also advise if a gemstone 

is imitating a more expensive gemstone. An 

imitation stone might be a less valuable semiprecious 

stone or it might simply be coloured 

glass. If I believe you have something valuable, 

I might suggest you seek further advice for 

insurance purposes. 

Is it a good idea to buy a gemstone as an 

investment? There is no simple answer to this 

and you should bear in mind all investments 

involve a degree of risk. Gemstones are hard 

assets. Historically, they have been seen as a 

hedge against inflation and the breakdown 

of more abstract forms of investment. Prices 

fluctuate, but over the long term, gemstones 

have risen in value significantly. So has the 

price of gold, which recently hit an alltime 

high. 

Caring for your gemstones and jewellery is 

important. Gemstones have different levels 

of hardness, so some can damage others 

if thrown together. Each piece of jewellery 

needs to have a separate compartment, with 

room for necklaces and bracelets to be fully 

laid out. This way you’ll avoid your favourite 

jewellery becoming tangled and scratched. 

When it comes to cleaning, you must know 

exactly what each gemstone is and what 

treatment it has undergone. Some gemstones 

can be irreparably damaged by harsh cleaning 

agents. Diamonds, sapphires and rubies are 

hard enough to be cleaned at home. To do 

this, mix distilled water with some mild soap 

and use a soft toothbrush to gently remove 

dirt. Dry and polish your gem with a soft, lintfree 

cloth to prevent water stains. 

For more information and to apply for 

Kim’s gemstone discovery tour, visit 

gemstonedetective.com 



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46 

Behind 

the 

Wall 

s 

w 


g 

Originally formed by 

neighbours living in 

Woodford Green, the 

Woodford Greeners was brought 

together in 2022 by a shared desire 

to see the outdoor spaces in our 

neighbourhood improved after 

being neglected for many years. 

Initially, volunteers tidied up planters filled 

with litter and weeds in Snakes Lane East and 

the surrounding roads, sprucing them up with 

flowers and plants they bought themselves. 

But after adopting more than 20 public beds, 

we made the request to Vision RCL for space 

in the walled garden in Ray Park so we could 

grow plants from seed and then transplant 

them out into the community. 

What started as a small, two-metre growing 

patch soon expanded, and we demonstrated 

our dedication to improving green spaces 

by clearing more than 180 square metres of 

nettles, brambles and poisonous hemlock 

that was filling much of the walled garden site 

at the time, as well as removing rubbish and 

scrap metal. We also raised funds for a gazebo 

to be installed, a water mains standpipe to 

be reinstated, plus a series of raised beds 

to be built and filled with dahlias and other 

perennial flowers for the public to come in 

and enjoy at weekends. 

Throughout summer 2023, the community 

garden was host to a number of free 

workshops, including a food-growing 

programme which will be returning as a 

free monthly session on Saturday mornings 

throughout 2024. 

All this activity caught the attention of local 

councillors, who have thrown their support 

behind the Woodford Greeners and agreed 

to clear the rest of the site of old skips and 

rubbish that have been stored there for more 

than 10 years. Over the last couple of months, 

contractors have been bringing in machinery 

to take it all away, as well as clear large 

amounts of brambles, freeing up more space 

for the community garden to expand. 

We also received more good news this year 

after discovering we had been selected to 

receive a Flagship ‘Our Space Award’ of more 

than £18,000 from Groundwork to develop 

this new area of the walled garden and install 

more crucial resources and infrastructure for 

the local community to use. This funding will 

also enable us to run free workshops at the 

garden again throughout summer 2024, so 

keep your eyes peeled for announcements on 

the Woodford Greeners website for our latest 

events and opportunities. 

For more information on the Woodford 

Greeners and the workshops taking place 

in the walled garden, visit swvg.co.uk/wg 


v 

a 

v 

g 

w 


a 

Community gardening group 

the Woodford Greeners has 

been incredibly busy over the 

last year after being granted 

access to the walled garden in 

Ray Park. Lydia Fraser-Ward reports. 

Photos by Geoff Wilkinson 

ga 

w 


48 


Join us us for Care Home Open Week 

Monday 24th 24th June June 

Meet Meet the the team team and and tour tour the the 

home home at at our our Cheese Cheese and and Wine Wine 

evening. evening. 

Tuesday 25th 25th June June 

Craft Craft Fair Fair with with local local stalls stalls and and 

sellers sellers 

6.30PM 

3-6PM 

Wednesday 26th 26th June June 

Gentle exercise class with Activelee, 

Gentle exercise class with Activelee, 11AM 

come come and and join join us us for for a free free lunch lunch 

afterwards 

afterwards 

Thursday 27th 27th June June 

Open day all day with talks 

Open day all day with talks OPEN 

about about Wills, Wills, POA, POA, Hearing Hearing health, health, ALL ALL DAY DAY 

and and how how to to fund fund care care from from 4pm 4pm 

63 

63 

Cambridge 

Cambridge 

Park 

Park 

Wanstead, 

Wanstead, 

London 

London 

E11 

E11 

2PR 

2PR 

chestnut@westgatehc.co.uk 

chestnut@westgatehc.co.uk 

chestnutmanorcarehome 

chestnutmanorcarehome 

www.westgatehc.co.uk 

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Friday 28th 28th June June 

Join 

Join 

us 

us 

for 

for 

an 

an 

end-of-week 

end-of-week 

Wimbledon themed party with live 4-6PM 

Wimbledon themed party with live 

music 

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and 

and 

afternoon 

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tea 

tea 

To To book your your place, or or to to find find out out more information, 

e-mail or or call call the the team on on 0203871 6070 

Woodford 

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Puzzle 

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50 


Writing History 

Ruth Rendell was best known for her crime novels featuring Chief 

Inspector Wexford. Less well known is that the author was born in 

South Woodford. Emily Allen explores the life of our local queen of crime 

Cosy crime and detective fiction is 

well and truly having a moment, 

with whodunnits by authors such as 

Richard Osman, Reverend Richard Coles 

and Janice Hallett selling by the millions. 

Yet, local lovers of crime fiction don’t have 

to look too far from home for a nearby link 

to the genre, as one of the 20th century’s 

most prolific crime fiction writers was born 

right on our doorstep. 

Ruth Rendell, née Grasemann, was born in 

South Woodford in 1930. Both her parents 

were teachers and she attended the County 

High School for Girls. After leaving school, she 

worked as a feature writer for the Chigwell 

Times, but was forced to resign after reporting 

on a local sports club dinner she hadn’t 

actually attended, and was therefore unaware 

that the after-dinner speaker had died midway 

through his speech! 

Following her marriage to Don Rendell, a 

reporter whom she met when they were both 

covering an inquest, and the birth of their son 

Simon three years later, Ruth set out to try 

her hand at fiction. Over the next few years, 

she wrote six crime novels, all of which were 

rejected by publishers. Her seventh, From 

Doon with Death, was accepted by John Long 

Publishing House and published in 1964, for 

which she received £75. Ruth’s inaugural novel 

also marks the first appearance of the popular 

character for whom she is perhaps best 

remembered: Chief Inspector Wexford. 

Chief Inspector Reginald Wexford lives in the 

fictional town of Kingsmarkham, Sussex, and 

solves the uncharacteristically high number of 

murders that befall the village. Over the next 

50 years, Ruth published 24 Inspector Wexford 

novels; the final title in the series, No Man’s 

Nightingale, was published in 2012, and sees 

Ruth Rendell (born 

17 February 1930, 

died 2 May 2015) 

Chief Inspector Wexford retired and acting as 

a police consultant. The novels’ rural village 

setting, clever plots and surprise endings have 

drawn parallels with Agatha Christie’s Poirot 

and Miss Marple and Dorothy L Sayers’s Lord 

Peter Wimsey novels. 

Ruth also published standalone psychological 

crime novels and thrillers to much acclaim, 

some under the pen name Barbara Vine, 

including A Judgement in Stone (1977) and 

A Sight for Sore Eyes (1998), and she set the last 

novel published in her lifetime, The Girl Next 

Door (2014), in Loughton. 

Ruth died in May 2015, only six months after 

the death of fellow crime writer PD James. 

The Ruth Rendell Award was introduced 

in 2016 by the National Literacy Trust and 

honours authors whose work influences and 

champions children’s literacy. Ruth’s novels, 

in particular her Inspector Wexford series, are 

some of the earliest works in today’s incredibly 

popular crime fiction category. So, the next 

time you curl up with a crime novel, you can 

be proud that a forerunner of this much-loved 

genre was one of South Woodford’s own. 

Emily Allen is a freelance writer. For more 

information, visit swvg.co.uk/allen 



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52 


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Venues for every occassion: 

- Weddings 

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Scan the QR Code 

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Find out more at: 

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54 




Community events 

MUSICAL THEATRE 

FAMILY QUIZ 

Test your show tunes knowledge. 

Date: Sunday 5 May Time: 2.30–4.30pm 

Venue: Redbridge Drama Centre, E18 2RB 

Cost: £10 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/visionevents 

MAY 

5 

EDINBURGH FRINGE 

COMEDY PREVIEW 

Featuring Rob Auton and Sara Barron. 

Date: Sunday 5 May Time: 7–9pm 


Cost: £11.50 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/visionevents 

MAY 

5 

WANSTEAD & WOODFORD 

WEA FILM CLUB 

A screening of Anatomy of a Fall (2023). 

New members welcome. 

Date: Monday 6 May Time: 12.30pm 

Venue: Odeon, South Woodford, E18 2QL 

Cost: 20p plus the cinema’s usual charges 

Enquiries: weafilmclub18@gmail.com 

MAY 

6 

BEREAVEMENT CAFÉ 

AFTERNOON SESSION 

For people struggling with feelings of loss. 

Date: Tuesday 7 May Time: 2–3pm 

Venue: St Mary’s Church, South Woodford 

Cost: free Enquiries: 020 8505 3000 

MAY 

7 

What’s happening, 

what’s on and where... 

Are you organising an event? 

Let us know... events@swvg.co.uk 

Please note: all events are 

subject to change. Please 

check with the relevant 

organisers to confirm details. 

Booking may be required. 

SOUTH WOODFORD WARD 

COUNCILLOR SURGERY 

Councillors Joe Hehir, Beverley Brewer and 

Saiqa Qayum Hussain. Booking required. 

Repeated on 12 June. 

Date: Wednesday 8 May Time: 6–7pm 

Venue: Salvation Army, 26 Daisy Road, E18 1EA 

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/councillors 

MAY 

8 

ELECTRONIC 

KEYBOARD CONCERT 

An East London and Essex Electronic Keyboard 

Club event featuring Chris Powell. 

Date: Wednesday 8 May Time: 7–10pm 

Venue: Wanstead Library, Spratt Hall Road 

Cost: £12; under-16s: £2 Enquiries: 020 8530 3717 

MAY 

8 

THE HISTORY OF 

SPITALFIELDS 

A talk by Jill Finch for the Woodford Historical 

Society. Visitors welcome. 

Date: Thursday 9 May Time: 2.30pm 

Venue: All Saints Church Hall, Woodford Green 

Cost: £3 Enquiries: woodfordhistoricalsociety.org 

MAY 

9 

SOUTH WOODFORD 

FIVE-MILE WALK 

A walk from the station – along tracks beside 

the River Roding – to Wanstead Park. Hosted 

by the West Essex Ramblers. 

Date: Friday 10 May Time: 10.30am–1pm 

Venue: meet at South Woodford Station 

Enquiries: west-essexramblers.org.uk 

MAY 

10 

FOOD GROWING 

WORKSHOP 

Learn what to plant now and how to prepare 

for the new growing season. Hosted by the 

Woodford Greeners. 

Date: Saturday 11 May Time: 10am–1pm 

Venue: Ray Park Community Garden, IG8 7JF 

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/greeners 

MAY 

11 


56 


ELMHURST GARDENS 

ACTION DAY 

Planting flowers, weeding, watering, pruning, 

maintenance projects and litter picking. 


Venue: Elmhurst Gardens, South Woodford 

Enquiries: parks.enquiries@visionrcl.org.uk 

MAY 

11 

RAIN GARDEN DESIGN AND 

POND IN A POT WORKSHOP 

Create a pond in a pot and learn the basics of 

creating a drainage system for a rain garden. 

Hosted by the Woodford Greeners. 

Date: Saturday 11 May Time: 12–4pm 

Venue: Ray Park Community Garden, IG8 7JF 

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/greeners 

MAY 

11 

OPEN WEEKEND AT THE 

TEMPLE IN WANSTEAD PARK 

Explore the park’s history in the visitor centre. 

Date: Saturday 11 to Sunday 12 May Time: 12–5pm 

Venue: the Temple, Wanstead Park, E11 2LT 

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/temple 

MAY 

11 

EAST LONDON ME/CFS 

SUPPORT GROUP 

Conversation, information and support. 

Date: Saturday 11 May Time: 2.30–5pm 

Venue: Wanstead House, 21 The Green, E11 2NT 

Cost: by donation Enquiries: 07957 152 566 

MAY 

11 

WANSTEAD PARK 

LITTER PICK 

Hosted by the Friends of Wanstead Parklands. 

Date: Sunday 12 May Time: 11am 

Venue: the Temple, Wanstead Park, E11 2LT 

Cost: free Enquiries: wansteadpark.org.uk 

MAY 

12 

HOW SACRED 

ARE THE DEAD? 

A lecture by Professor Ronald Hutton for 

the West Essex Archaeological Group, 

discussing attitudes towards human remains. 

Visitors welcome. 

Date: Monday 13 May Time: 7.30pm 

Venue: Woodford County High School, IG8 9LA 

Cost: free Enquiries: weag.org.uk 

MAY 

13 

OPEN DAY 

12 MAY 2024 12PM – 4PM 

TRY BOWLS 

FOR FUN 

FLAT SHOES REQUIRED 

FREE PARKING • CREAM TEAS • CLUB BAR 

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME 

CLUB HOUSE AVAILABLE FOR HIRE 

Overton Drive (within golf club), Wanstead, E11 2LW 

For further details, please visit www.wansteadbowlingclub.wordpress.com 



MRS MINIVER: FROM MANOR 

PARK TO HOLLYWOOD 

A talk about actress Greer Garson (born in 

Manor Park on 29 September 1904) by Janet 

Seward for the Wanstead Historical Society. 

Date: Monday 13 May Time: 8pm 


Cost: £3 Enquiries: 07949 026 212 

MAY 

13 

WILDLIFE OF 

SOUTHERN AFRICA 

A talk for the North East London Local Group 

of the RSPB by Ben Chapple. 

Date: Tuesday 14 May Time: 8pm 


Cost: £4.50 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/rspb 

MAY 

14 

REDBRIDGE MUSIC 

SOCIETY RECITAL 

Featuring guitarist Adam Brown. 



Cost: £12; members: £8 Enquiries: 07380 606 767 

MAY 

14 

THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE 

NATIONAL GALLERY 

A talk by Lydia Bauman for The Arts Society, 

Woodford Green. Visitors welcome. 


Venue: Bancroft’s School, High Road, IG8 0RF 

Cost: donation Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/artssociety 

MAY 

14 

OPEN TABLE AT 

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH 

Join a community meal open to all. 

No booking required. 

Date: Wednesday 15 May Time: 5.30–7.30pm 

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Hermon Hill, E18 1QQ 

Cost: free Enquiries: htsw.org.uk 

MAY 

15 

HAVEN HOUSE SPARKLE 

WALK 2024 

Haven House’s annual charity walk around 

Wanstead, Woodford and South Woodford. 

Date: Friday 17 May Time: 6–10pm 

Venue: meet next to Christ Church, Wanstead 

Cost: £10 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/sparkle24 

MAY 

17 

EVE WRIGHT SCHOOL OF DANCING 

Come dance with us 

BALLROOM, LATIN AND SEQUENCE DANCE STYLES 

TEA DANCES: EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 1.15PM 

CLASSES: 

enquiries@stereodancingsounds.co.uk 

Call: 07711 718 789 

EVERY THURSDAY EVENING 

7.15PM: NEW DANCERS 

8PM: IMPROVERS 

ISTD FULLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS 

stereodancingsounds.co.uk 

ALL HELD AT WANSTEAD HOUSE, E11 2NT 


58 


LAUGHTER IN ONE ACT 

(OR LESS!) 

Amateur dramatics company WOADS returns 

to the stage for an evening of one-act plays 

and monologues. Sunday matinée at 2pm. 

Date: Friday 17 to Sunday 19 May Time: 7–9pm 



MAY 

17 

MENTAL HEALTH 

AWARENESS WEEK: ZUMBA 

Date: Saturday 18 May Time: 9.30–10.30am 

Venue: Wanstead Leisure Centre, E11 2JZ 

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/visionevents 

MAY 

18 

FOOD, FUN AND 

CRAFT MARKET 

An array of handmade products from local 

traders. Plus, face painting, bouncy castles, 

entertainment and tours of the church tower. 


Venue: Woodford Memorial Hall, E18 2PA 

Cost: free Enquiries: woodfordcraftmarket.co.uk 

MAY 

18 

LOCAL MAKERS 

MARKET 

Handmade products from local designermakers. 

Including screen prints, ceramics, 

jewellery, homewares and textiles. 

Date: Saturday 18 May Time: 11am–4.30pm 

Venue: Christ Church Hall, E11 2SW 

Cost: free entry Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/makers 

MAY 

18 

RAY PARK 

ACTION DAY 

Planting flowers, weeding, watering, pruning, 

maintenance projects and litter picking. 

Date: Saturday 18 May Time: 1.30–4.30pm 

Venue: Ray Park, Woodford Green, IG8 7JF 

Enquiries: parks.enquiries@visionrcl.org.uk 

MAY 

18 


COMMUNITY MARKET 

Monthly market offering a range of products. 

Date: Sunday 19 May Time: 11am–4pm 

Venue: George Lane, South Woodford 

Enquiries: aceeventsltd.co.uk 

MAY 

19 

SOUTH WOODFORD SOCIETY 

LITTER PICK 

Repeated on 23 June. 


Venue: Community Orchard, South Woodford 

Cost: free Enquiries: e18society@gmail.com 

MAY 

19 

GARDENING SESSION 

AT THE ORCHARD 

Help lay woodchip paths around the orchard 

to improve access. 


Venue: Community Orchard, South Woodford 

Cost: free Enquiries: southwoodfordsociety.org 

MAY 

19 


JUMBLE TRAIL 

Check the online map of stalls and explore 

the local streets to discover hidden treasures. 

Stallholders must register by 17 May (£5). 

Date: Sunday 19 May Time: 12–4pm 

Venue: across South Woodford 

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/trail24 

MAY 

19 

GREAT SOLAR 

ECLIPSES 

A North East London Astronomical Society talk 

by Jerry Workman and Steve Karpel. 

Date: Sunday 19 May Time: 1.30pm 


Cost: £3 Enquiries: stevek1951@hotmail.com 

MAY 

19 

THE WOODFORD SINGERS: 

LIVING LANDSCAPES 

The Woodford Singers will be performing a 

programme inspired by landscapes. 

Date: Sunday 19 May Time: 5pm 

Venue: St Gabriel’s Church, Aldersbrook, E12 5HH 

Cost: £10 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/ws19may 

MAY 

19 

FLOWER ARRANGING 

DEMONSTRATION 

Kathy Stangaard presents to the Woodford 

and District Floral Arrangement Group. 

Date: Monday 20 May Time: 7.30–9.45pm 



MAY 

20 




60 


ARCHAEOLOGY 

IN ESSEX 

A talk by Simon Coxall for the Woodford and 

District Centre of the National Trust. 

Date: Wednesday 22 May Time: 2.30pm 

Venue: All Saints Church Hall, Woodford Green 


MAY 

22 

WHERE’S 

MRS LADYBIRD? 

A live hide-and-seek story for children. Various 

shows throughout the day. 

Date: Friday 24 May Time: 10.30am 


Cost: £5 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/visionevents 

MAY 

24 

SHINE FOSTERING FRIDAY 

COFFEE MORNING 

Find out more about fostering. 

Date: Friday 24 May Time: 11am–1pm 

Venue: Shine Fostering, 109 George Lane 

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/shinefostering 

MAY 

24 

ELMER DAY: 

BOOK SWAP 

To mark Elmer the Elephant’s 35th birthday. 

Date: Saturday 25 May Time: 10.30am–4.30pm 


Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/visionevents 

MAY 

25 

RED RIDING HOOD AT 

REDBRIDGE DRAMA CENTRE 

A play designed to open up the world of 

books to young audiences. Presented by 

Booster Cushion Theatre. 

Date: Thursday 30 May Time: 11–11.50am 



MAY 

30 

WE’LL ALWAYS 

HAVE PARIS 

The Highams Players present a feel-good play 

with laughter and tears. 

Date: Thursday 30 May to Saturday 1 June 

Time: 8pm (2pm and 7pm on Saturday) 


Cost: £10; children: £5 Enquiries: 020 8924 6987 

MAY 

30 

WANSTEAD 

VINTAGE FAIR 

Including fashion, jewellery, accessories, 

homewares, books, prints, furniture, textiles, 

vinyl and more. 

Date: Saturday 1 June Time: 10.30am–4.30pm 

Venue: Wanstead United Reformed Church 

Cost: £3 Enquiries: wansteadvintage.com 

JUN 

1 

WANSTEAD 


Date: Sunday 2 June Time: 10am–4pm 

Venue: Wanstead High Street 

JUN 

2 

NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME 

IN SOUTH WOODFORD 

Explore this old-fashioned summer garden 

with a small orchard and two ponds (one for 

wildlife and one for goldfish). Open to the 

public in aid of charity. 

Date: Sunday 2 June Time: 1–5pm 

Venue: 68 Derby Road, South Woodford, E18 2PS 

Cost: £4 Enquiries: ngs.org.uk 

JUN 

2 

EDINBURGH FRINGE 

COMEDY PREVIEW 

Featuring Chloe Petts and Garret Millerick. 




JUN 

2 

WANSTEAD & WOODFORD 

WEA FILM CLUB 

A screening of Saltburn (2024). Non-members 

may join the club at any film screening. 

Date: Monday 3 June Time: 12.30pm 

Venue: Odeon, South Woodford, E18 2QL 

Cost: 20p plus the cinema’s usual charges 

Enquiries: weafilmclub18@gmail.com 

JUN 

3 

CHURCHFIELDS SCHOOL 

REUNION: 150 YEARS 

Former pupils, members of staff and 

governors are invited to attend. 

Date: Saturday 8 June Time: from 11am 

Venue: Churchfields, South Woodford, E18 2RB 

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/c150 

JUN 

8 



NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME 

IN WOODFORD GREEN 

Explore this long and very green suburban 

garden sloping down from the back of the 

house towards the mature trees of Epping 

Forest. Open to the public in aid of charity. 


Venue: 42 Keynsham Avenue, IG8 9SZ 

Cost: £4 Enquiries: ngs.org.uk 

JUN 

9 

BIRDING IN 

MOROCCO 

A talk for the North East London Local Group 

of the RSPB by Richard Bashford. 

Date: Tuesday 11 June Time: 8pm 


Cost: £4.50 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/rspb 

JUN 

11 



Date: Sunday 16 June Time: 11am–4pm 

Venue: George Lane, South Woodford 

Enquiries: aceeventsltd.co.uk 

JUN 

16 

OAKDALE INFANT & JUNIOR 

SCHOOL SUMMER FETE 

Stalls, food, games, live DJ and more. 

Date: Saturday 22 June Time: 12–4pm 

Venue: Oakdale School, South Woodford, E18 1JX 

Cost: free Enquiries: 020 8989 7471 

JUN 

22 

WANSTEAD PARK 

WILDLIFE WEEKEND 

A weekend of activities and events, with 

live animals on display. Hosted by the Wren 

Wildlife Group. 

Date: Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 June 

Venue: Wanstead Park, E11 2LT 

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/wren 

JUN 

JUN 

30 

22 

FOREST PHILHARMONIC 

ORCHESTRA CONCERT 

Forest Philharmonic plays Sibelius, Bacewicz 

and Delibes. 

Date: Sunday 30 June Time: 6.30pm 

Venue: St Gabriel’s Church, Aldersbrook, E12 5HH 

Cost: £18 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/fpevents 

MagiKats Woodford 

magikats.co.uk/woodford 

Call: 0208 150 7174 


62 


Local community groups 

FRIENDS OF WANSTEAD PARKLANDS 

Researching and promoting Wanstead Park. 

Visit wansteadpark.org.uk 

NCT REDBRIDGE & DISTRICT 

Offering support and information to parents 

and parents-to-be. Call 0300 330 0700 

ROTARY CLUB OF LEYTONSTONE 

AND WOODFORD 

Meeting every Thursday at 6.30pm at The 

Royal Oak, Chingford. Call 020 3597 2921 

SCOTTISH DANCING FOR FUN 

Mondays from 8pm at St Barnabas Church. 

No partners needed. Call 020 8504 3376 

SOUTH WOODFORD BUSINESS FORUM 

Quarterly meetings providing a voice for 

South Woodford’s businesses and networking 

opportunities. Visit swvg.co.uk/swbf 

Creative 

Giftware 

A family business based in Wanstead, specialising in 

embroidered homeware and gifts for all occasions 

Call: 0208 530 1244 

84 Nightingale Lane, Wanstead, E11 2EZ 

SOUTH WOODFORD GARDENERS 

Tending to and improving the flower beds 

across the local area. Visit swvg.co.uk/swg 

SOUTH WOODFORD SOCIETY 

Making South Woodford a better place to live. 

Visit southwoodfordsociety.org 

ST BARNABAS CHURCH LUNCHEON CLUB 

Every Friday, 12 noon to 2pm at St Barnabas 

Church Hall, 127 Snakes Lane East. All over-55s 

welcome. Cost: £4. Call 020 8491 1134 

ULTRASOUND CHOIR 

Female choir singing a wide repertoire every 

Tuesday at Derby Road Methodist Church 

from 7.30pm. Call 07799 196 241 

WANSTEAD AND WOODFORD BLIND CLUB 

Social club for people with sight problems 

meeting Thursday afternoons (2pm to 4pm) in 

South Woodford. Call 07840 850 838 

WANSTEAD AND WOODFORD 

CENTENARY FILM CLUB 

Meets on the first Monday of each month 

(except August), 12.30pm at the Odeon, South 

Woodford (the cinema’s usual charges apply). 

Email weafilmclub18@gmail.com 

WEST ESSEX RAMBLERS 

Local walks every week. Visit swvg.co.uk/wer 

WOODFORD AND WANSTEAD 

PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY 

Meeting virtually or at Wanstead House every 

Monday. Visit swvg.co.uk/wwps 

WOODFORD ARTS GROUP 

All Woodford-based artists are welcome to 

apply to join. Visit swvg.co.uk/wag 

WOODFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

Stimulating interest in the history of the local 

area. Visit woodfordhistoricalsociety.org 

WREN WILDLIFE GROUP 

Wildlife conservation. Visit wrengroup.org.uk 



Sylvestrian Leisure Centre presents: 

isure Centre 

HA YOGA 

ASSES 

OFF AND TAKE CARE 

YOURSELF! 

es FREE this month by 

h our reception team. 

HATHA YOGA 

CLASSES 

TAKE TIME OFF AND 

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FOR FOR MORE MORE INFORMATION INFORMATION CONTACT CONTACT US: US: 

020 8509 6526 

ENQUIRIES@SYLVESTRIAN-LEISURE.CO.UK 

020 FOR 8509 MORE 6526 INFORMATION CONTACT US: 


020 FOR 8509 MORE 6526 INFORMATION CONTACT US: 


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NORMAL CHARGES APPLY FROM THE 1ST MAY 2024 





64 


Useful numbers 

ADVICE & SUPPORT 

Citizens Advice Redbridge 0808 278 7872 

National Debtline 0808 808 4000 

Samaritans116 123 

HEALTH 

NHS 111 111 

Whipps Cross Hospital 020 8539 5522 

Shrubberies Medical Centre 020 8530 4108 

Glebelands Practice 020 8989 6272 

South Woodford Health Centre 020 8491 3333 

Elmhurst Practice 020 8491 3310 

The Broadway Surgery 020 8505 3204 

Southdene Surgery 020 8530 3731 

Out of hours GP 020 3770 1888 

LEISURE & LIBRARIES 

South Woodford Library & Gym 020 8708 9067 

Woodford Green Library 020 8708 7444 

Wanstead Library 020 8708 7400 

Wanstead Leisure Centre 020 8989 1172 

in South Woodford 

LOCAL COUNCILLORS South Woodford ward 

Beverley Brewer (Lab) 020 8554 5000 

beverley.brewer@redbridge.gov.uk 

Joe Hehir (Lab) 07741 904 709 

joe.hehir@redbridge.gov.uk 

Saiqa Qayum Hussain (Lab) 07918 277 502 

saiqa.qayum@redbridge.gov.uk 

LOCAL COUNCILLORS Churchfields ward 

Lloyd Duddridge (Lab) 07799 579 763 

lloyd.duddridge@redbridge.gov.uk 

Rosa Gomez (Lab) 07799 057 030 

rosa.gomez@redbridge.gov.uk 

Guy Williams (Lab) 07918 278 865 

guy.williams@redbridge.gov.uk 

LOCAL MP Chingford and Woodford Green 

Iain Duncan Smith MP 020 7219 3000 

iainduncansmith.org.uk 

Room 22 

A treasure trove of 

gifts and ladies’ wear 

and accessories, plus a 

picture framing service. 

22 Electric Parade, George Lane 

020 8989 6669 

room22uk@gmail.com 

LOCAL MP Ilford North 

Wes Streeting MP 020 3475 7901 

wesstreeting.org 

LOCAL MP Leyton and Wanstead 

John Cryer MP 020 8989 5249 

johncryermp.co.uk 

POLICE & NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH 

Emergency 999 

Non-emergency 101 

Crimestoppers0800 555 111 

SNTsntji-south-woodford@met.police.uk 

SNTsntji-churchfields@met.police.uk 

REDBRIDGE COUNCIL 

Customer contact centre 020 8554 5000 

Report antisocial behaviour 020 8478 4679 

UTILITIES 

Electricity (power cut) 105 

Electricity emergency 0800 40 40 90 

Gas emergency0800 111 999 

Thames Water (report a leak)0800 714 614 



Independent Co-educational Day School For 3 - 11 Years 

OPEN AFTERNOON 

Friday 10th May 2024 

1.30pm - 3.00pm 

Register interest at 

www.wgprep.co.uk 

Assisted places available from 7+ 

EXCELLENT 

IN ALL AREAS 

(Inspection June 2023) 

Tel: 0208 504 5045 

Email: admissions@wgprep.co.uk www.wgprep.co.uk 


66 

ARCHITECT 

LOUD Architects42 

BARBERS 

Agy’s Barber Shop18 

BATHROOMS 

Bathworks 25 

BEAUTY 

Skintap48 

BUILDERS 

North London Loft Rooms 9 

CARPENTRY & JOINERY 

K&D Joinery 23 

Woodthorpe Joinery2 

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES 

Family Fair 22 

COMMUNITY & GROUPS 

South Woodford Society37 

COUNSELLING 

Counselling Helps49 

CULTURAL EXCHANGE 

The Hilse 6 

DANCE 

Eve Wright School of Dancing57 

DECORATORS 

Decorating Spaces7 

E18 Handyman18 

Stuart Green Property Solutions14 

DENTIST 

Smile in London 28–29 

Woodford House68 

DOORS 


ELDERLY CARE 

Chestnut Manor Care Home48 

EMBROIDERY 

Creative Giftware62 

ESTATE AGENTS 

Churchill Estates34–35 

The Stow Brothers 67 

Yellands45 

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES 

Beauty And The Beast 59 

Chestnut Manor Care Home48 

Hitchcock Talks & Tours 11 

Laughter in One Act (or less!)54 

The Gondoliers 32 

Wanstead Bowling Club 56 


– Index of advertisers – 

FENCING 

Lancasters Gardencare19 

FITNESS 

Dodgy Tickers Fitness12 

Sylvestrian Leisure Centre 63 

FUNERAL DIRECTORS 

Compassionate Funerals 4 

FUNFAIR 

Family Fair 22 

GARAGE SERVICES 

Belgrave Motor Services 52 

Woodbridge Autos 43 

GARDENS & LANDSCAPING 

Lancasters Gardencare19 

GIFTS 

Creative Giftware62 

Room 2264 

GUTTER CLEARING 

Gutter Cleaning Services49 

HAIRDRESSERS 

Carmen10 

HANDYMAN 



HOLIDAY PROPERTIES 

Dovehouse Developments45 

JEWELLERY 

Gemstone Detective45 

LOFTS 


MOT 

Belgrave Motor Services 52 

Woodbridge Autos 43 

OPTICIANS 

Bayfields Opticians & Audiologists5 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Geoff Wilkinson21 

PLUMBING & HEATING 

Rightio Plumbing & Heating42 

Smart Heat Solutions 52 

PRINTERS 

City Copy Centre14 

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE 


Gutter Cleaning Services49 



PROPERTY SERVICES 

Churchill Estates34–35 

The Stow Brothers 67 

Yellands45 

RECRUITMENT 

Public Sector Recruitment 8 

RESTAURANT & CAFÉS 

Robins Pie & Mash33 

SCHOOLS & NURSERIES 

Avon House Preparatory School51 

Loyola Preparatory School38–39 

Woodford Green Prep School 65 

SHOWERS 

Bathworks 25 

SOLICITORS 

Barretts Law15 

Edwards Duthie Shamash31 

SPORT & LEISURE 

Dodgy Tickers Fitness12 



STAIRS 


STORAGE 

BWI Self Storage13 

SUIT HIRE 

Mode London21 

THEATRE 

Beauty And The Beast 59 

Laughter in One Act (or less!)54 

The Gondoliers 32 

TOURS 

Hitchcock Talks & Tours 11 

TUITION & COURSES 

Kumon 4 

MagiKats61 

VENUE HIRE 

Vision RCL Venues 53 


WARDROBES 


WINDOW RESTORATION 

McCarty & Smith 1 

WINDOW SHUTTERS 


YOGA 




CONTACT US NOW FOR YOUR FREE VALUATION 

SOUTH WOODFORD → 136 GEORGE LANE E18 1AY 

hello18@stowbrothers.com 0203 369 1818 

FOLLOW US: ➻ @STOWBROTHERS ➻ STOWBROTHERS.COM 


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Independent directory of businesses, news and events in and around South Woodford

May/Jun 2024

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